How to Estimate Painting Jobs - Paints and Materials - Selling Tools For the Professional Painter

1) Materials are all the different paints, primers, finishes and sundries that will be used to complete your customer's job. If you choose the correct materials, you will the give your customer good value for their money and long lasting protection for their home. And although on average materials will be only 10% to 12% of the painting estimate, they are a very important part of every paint job.

2) Most customers think that all paints are the same or they fall for things like a 35 year guarantee, even though most people will repaint in that span of time. Paint manufacturers formulate a wide range of products for specific applications. Not only do manufacturers make paints for different application but the also make different grades of paint from the top of their line to the lowest grade of builder paint.

3) A professional painting contractor should be familiar with all the different paints on the market and will be able to make the proper recommendation when they estimate a painting job. Also paint manufacturers introduce new products each year.

4) A professional painting contractor can stay informed with these new advances by subscribing to trade journals, attending manufacturers training courses which are free, working with factory reps, and belonging to professional trade organizations.

5) One of the things that a professional paint contractor can point out to their customer, during the sales call, is that part time and "summer painters" don't have the dedication to keep up to date on all the advances in paints and coatings that professional painting contractors do.

6) Use this information when you estimate the paint job. I believe that when a professional painter is up to date on all new paints and coatings they can look better and stand apart from all the other paint contractors that are bidding the same paint job.

7) We should always want to look better to the customer than the rest of the paint contractors. Not only will we look more knowledgeable but showing the customer that we know the products, will also prove to the client that we will be the contractor that will give the best value for their dollar. Giving more value to the customer will justify in their mind that we are worth a higher price job.

Source : Ezinearticles